The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre continues to attract a high level of experienced industry professionals to its team as it prepares for opening in 2016.

OCEC General Manager; Trevor McCartney, said, “He was delighted with the outstanding professionalism, knowledge and skills of the venue’s latest recruits. This centre is one of the country’s pillar projects and I’m confident that the team we’re presently assembling will contribute to Oman’s economic diversification by attracting some of the world’s most prestigious events to the Sultanate.”

“The marketing efforts of venue manager, AEG Ogden over the past two years has positively positioned the Sultanate of Oman as a future emerging convention destination which in turn has contributed to the high level of interest from applicants from both at home and abroad,” he added.

Mr. Al Flaiti’s previous positions include Director of Human Resources for the Al Sulaimi Group; Assistant Director General for the Ministry of Health’s Directorate General of Education & Training; and Director of Patient Service Improvement at the Royal Hospital.

Mr. Al Habsi has strong experience in both Oman and overseas with his most recent positions at the Oman Environmental Service and Omantel, as well as Halliburton Worldwide and Arthur Anderson.

Mr. Al Maawali has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the College of Commerce & Economics at the Sultan Qaboos University and has recently worked at The Wave Muscat and the Ministry of Finance.

“Mr. Al Flaiti, Mr. Al Habsi and Mr. Al Maawali are highly experienced and with their commitment, passion and drive they will be enormous assets to OCEC’s operation in the lead up to the Centre’s opening in 2016,” said Mr. McCartney. He added, “Mr. Tariq Sultan, Business Development Executive, Ms. Marya Al Hashar, Business Development Researcher and Mr. Mohammed Al Zadjali, PRO were also playing integral support roles at the Centre.”

Mr. McCartney also announced the appointment of internationally respected convention industry executive, Ms. Gillian Taylor as OCEC’s Director of Business Development.

Ms. Taylor joins the Centre after having worked for the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority for the past eight years. Previously, she served as a Board Member of the Society of International Travel Executives (SITE) and Australia’s Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau (now Business Events Sydney). Before that she was General Manager for a destination management company in Sydney for more than 10 years.

Another appointment is Mr. John Burke as Director of Operations. Mr. Burke brings extensive operational experience to the venue having served most recently at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha and prior to that, 15 years with the NEC Group in the United Kingdom which included the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Birmingham, International Convention Centre (ICC) Birmingham, LG Arena and the National Indoor Arena (NIA).

Mr. Burke will also assume the joint role of OCEC’s Technical Sevices Manager.

Mr. McCartney said, “He was delighted with the high level of applicants and that further recruitment drives were planned over the next 6 to 12 months in the areas of operations, event planning, production, venue presentation and food and beverage.” “We are on track for our target of 60% Omanisation by the end of 2015 when the Centre will employ around 200 fulltime positions just before the opening in early 2016,” Mr. McCartney concluded.

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